Asteroids - The big pictureAn attempt is made to construct a simple model of the evolution of the asteroid belt from the data available about the individual asteroids. Data on the meaning of taxonomic types, the stratigraphy of the asteroid belt, the compositional meaning of Tholen space, collisional and dynamical history, and asteroid shapes are reviewed. Two main paradoxes concerning asteroids, called the ordinary chondrite mystery and the olivine problems, are briefly described. Finally, the tentative model is presented, showing how it takes into account condensation locations, heating, collisional evolution, and delivery of asteroids to earth.
Document ID
19900039987
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bell, Jeffrey F. (Hawaii, University Honolulu, United States)
Davis, Donald R. (Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Hartmann, William K. (Planetary Science Institute Tucson, AZ, United States)
Gaffey, Michael J. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States)